The limbo is over for foreign drivers

Recently I covered this topic of mobile speed cameras and foreign drivers on motorways: to collect that fine, the Guardia Civil had to stop them on the spot, otherwise they would continue their journey without any problem. But with fixed speed cameras, unless the driver’s country of residence has a treaty with Spain for fines, those who triggered the camera didn’t bat an eyelid.

Well the DGT has announced that this is going to end, since on roads such as the A-7 in Murcia, 30% of fixed-camera fines are issued to foreign vehicles. To remedy this, now every time a foreign driver exceeds the permitted speed and is detected by a fixed camera, the photo of the vehicle will be sent to the nearest Guardia Civil patrol so they can intercept the offender.

Once they stop them, they will have to pay the fine or the vehicle will be immobilised (as happens in the rest of European countries). This new system is already in place on the AP-7 in Castellón, the A-7 in Murcia, the A-31 in Alicante, and of course the A-52 in Zamora.

Giving my personal opinion, I think it is a fair measure, but I would like to know how the arrests are going to be carried out, because at this rate we are going to have “alerta cobra” in its Spanish version on our motorways and dual carriageways. I only hope they at least improve the safety of the current roadside checkpoints, which are a danger both to the officers and to other road users.

Source | PRSeguridadvial and Elpais.com